Before Windows 8 launch, Microsoft to engage users

BANGALORE, INDIA: Ahead of the most-anticipated launch of its Windows 8 platform on October 26, Microsoft India has planned some events for the developer community as well as its users.

At the concluding day of the Windows AppFest, which entered The Guinness Book of World Records for having the most number of participants in one location — 2,567 developers and engineers out of the registered 3,500 — in a software development marathon that ran for 18 hours, Microsoft India chairman, Bhaskar Pramanik, revealed as much to CIOL.

"It's not exactly a series of events, but we are going to have some events and contests, which you would know as it pans out," said a gleeful Pramanik, who wished the enthusiastic participants for their feat. "You did it and have made all of us proud."

All the developers who took part in the 18-hour coding marathon will also be receiving Guinness certificates.

"This Guinness Record at Windows AppFest is a great accomplishment by all the developers who participated. We would like to thank everyone involved. Over the course of the 18 hours of the Windows AppFest, we saw some outstanding talent and many innovative apps being developed. I am certain that the success of Windows AppFest will ignite the minds of developers across India to leverage the opportunity and global reach of the Windows platform," said Pramanik.

Also read: Windows AppFest: Developers take 75 p.c. of first $25K

Paul O'Neill, vice-president, Guinness World Records Commercial, announced Microsoft's entry into The Guinness Book of World Records for the Most Participants in a Software Development Marathon in One Location. A certificate validating the record was presented to Jon DeVaan, corporate vice-president for Windows Development at Microsoft and Pramanik.

According to Pramanik, the AppFest was a platform to encourage budding developers, technology enthusiasts and entrepreneurs to innovate on the next-generation Windows version. At this point, there are enough indications that there would be more in the offing, before the worldwide launch.

Earlier, on Friday, DeVaan announced that developers could retain 70 per cent of the first $25,000 (the app generates) and 80 per cent of the rest.

Meanwhile, Pramanik reiterated that their focus was to enable developers build affordable, inclusive and sustainable apps, which are ecologically aware. "It's (the AppFest) a big step to create the next big thing to change the world. It will reinforce India as the preferred destination for app development and continuous cloud services. In India, we have the second largest developer community in the world. It is the only country Microsoft is holding an event of this scale.

The first app of the AppFest — Web Radio — was developed by Neel Mani and Keshav from PathPartner Technology Consulting.

Windows 8 would have apps that cover about 200 countries and in 70 languages across the world.